European Commission submits new food safety proposals
David Byrne, European Commissioner for food safety said, "We have learned our lessons from the food crises of the nineties," as he announced what he described as the most radical reform of the EU's hygiene rules in 25 years.
The new regulations are based on a "farm to table" approach and merge a complex web of previous rules that were scattered across various separate pieces of legislation.
Under the simplified rules, contained in 4 regulations, food companies themselves will bear the primary responsibility for food safety. They will have to carry out regular self-checks and keep records of their products and ingredients used.
"I am confident that with this systematic set of uniform rules we are laying the groundwork for filling the gaps in the existing legislation and enhancing food safety throughout the food chain. Food operators large and small will find this simplified and transparent set of rules easier to apply. They give them a clear responsibility for making sure food is safe, while leaving them more freedom and flexibility in deciding how to achieve that in their own premises."
Most large food corporations already follow the hazard control techniques required, but the new laws will impact more on small- and medium-sized firms.
But Byrne said there would also be an element of flexibility, and that member states would have more control over how the legislation was implemented.
"The responsibility for adapting the rules to such local situations is left to Member States since they are better placed to judge and find appropriate solutions, provided the basic principle of food safety is not compromised," said Byrne.
The new food hygiene rules will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council and be finalized and adopted in co-decision procedure.